I want to buy an Alienware 17 R4 but I was shocked, when I see the price difference between the US and Germany. I think in the US is everytime sales time, because everytime I visit their site I see some sales also with over 20%. In germany we never got so a good sale or so often.

And the Premium Support in Germany costs more then the double of the US price.

And then the most important question: Why Dell does not more send to forwarding companies? I think Dell can loose customers. And so: Why?

I would save around 1000€/1200$ (taxes and shipping costs are included).

You may get different warranty rights on a system purchased in USA vs a system purchased in EU. And if a particular part, eg video card, isn't used in EU models, you won't get that part serviced in the EU.

Microsoft is under restrictions about what features it can and cannot include when the OS software is sold in the EU. And I don't know if you can change the language on Windows installed in the US from English to German or anything else.

You're arguing about a "dead horse". If Dell doesn't want to sell you a certain model because you live in the EU and they won't ship the one you want to a forwarding company, there's nothing we, as users and notDell employees, can do to satisfy you.

Dell has to abide by the sales and trade agreements with each individual country. The higher prices are definitely the trade tariffs and higher tax rate that Dell is charged in your country. Dell may not be allowed to offer as many sales and discounts with the trade agreement.

Dell cannot sell and ship a computer to another country because of the trade agreements between Dell and these countries.

The US government restricts the export of certain technologies to other countries and Dell has to abide by US laws. Consequently, Dell won't ship to a "forwarding company" because it's likely that company will ship the product outside the USA.

If you purchase a product using the US shipping address of some forwarding company, the product will come with US warranty. That warranty won't entitle you to warranty repairs unless you ship the PC directly back to a Dell or to a US address where a Dell service tech can provide on-site service, if that's covered under the warranty.

And the version of Windows installed on the PC may be restricted to use in the USA because Microsoft also has to comply with US laws, and EU directives about what they can/cannot include in the Operating System.

If you purchase a product using the US shipping address of some forwarding company, the product will come with US warranty. That warranty won't entitle you to warranty repairs unless you ship the PC directly back to a Dell or to a US address where a Dell service tech can provide on-site service, if that's covered under the warranty.

But only the basic warranty is national On-site. The premium warranty is worldwide. And I can transfer service contracts and property rights. This is not the problem.

RoHe schrieb:

And the version of Windows installed on the PC may be restricted to use in the USA because Microsoft also has to comply with US laws, and EU directives about what they can/cannot include in the Operating System.

I don´t understand.

Do you mean, that the US can block some things in Windows (US) or the other way?

You may get different warranty rights on a system purchased in USA vs a system purchased in EU. And if a particular part, eg video card, isn't used in EU models, you won't get that part serviced in the EU.

Microsoft is under restrictions about what features it can and cannot include when the OS software is sold in the EU. And I don't know if you can change the language on Windows installed in the US from English to German or anything else.

You're arguing about a "dead horse". If Dell doesn't want to sell you a certain model because you live in the EU and they won't ship the one you want to a forwarding company, there's nothing we, as users and notDell employees, can do to satisfy you.